Jayne Anne Krentz (Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle)

Romance novelist Jayne Anne Krentz has churned out books under three separate names since 1979. As USA Today notes, these names establish three separate literary worlds: Jayne Ann Krentz for romantic suspense, Amanda Quick for historical fiction and Jayne Castle for futuristic science fiction. But this wasn’t Krentz’s original plan. “Trust me, I did not set out to establish three pen names … The idea back at the start was that I would stick with the name that proved most successful,” she told USA Today. But eventually, these identities just kind of evolved until they stuck, giving the author room to develop distinct types of plots. This trio of pseudonyms seems to be working for Krentz, as she’s been successful with all three. Still, she says, “I do not recommend it as a career strategy.”

The pseudonyms for Anne Rice and Jayne Anne Krentz have also never really been secret. Krentz chose different pen names for different genres/subgenres. Readers know her contemporary stories are as JAK, that her historicals are as Amanda Quick, etc.

This list is not complete without including LAURA ALBERT, who wrote three critically acclaimed novels, SARAH, THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, and HAROLD'S END under her pseudonym, J.T. LeROY. Additionally, she was included in anthologies, and authored well-received articles and reviews in major magazine publications from 1997 - 2005.